“Apple has acquired AlgoTrim, a Swedish startup that builds codecs and designs solutions that maximize performance of data, mobile imaging, video and computer graphics while minimizing memory requirements, according to a new report by Swedish emerging industry news service Rapidus, confirmed separately by TechCrunch,” Darrell Etherington reports for TechCrunch.

“The helps Apple in terms of allowing it to build more efficient media deliver for mobile devices, that use less bandwidth while preserving quality,” Etherington reports. “The work that AlgoTrim is doing in digital imaging could be very useful to Apple as a means to help the camera powers of its mobile devices jump to the next level. Not to mention that the rest of the company’s tech is generally useful, if extremely technical, in terms of helping to improve the overall operating efficiency of mobile devices. In essence, AlgoTrim focuses on getting more out of mobile processors while also chasing ever-lower power demands.”

Apple has been acquiring a lot of companies lately. I just hope they manage to integrate all the technologies they have purchased with their products well. Sometimes, you can’t just buy your way to perfection.

Fear not, my Padawan. These acquisitions are very small, and in no way would dent the culture of the company. In many cases, Apple is acquiring the company for its technology, intellectual property/patents and select key talent. Often, Apple is adding only a dozen new employees by such small acquisitions, hardly a ripple in their ranks.

The buy vs. build issue is common. Apple has an incredible track record of such acquisitions that have exponential payoffs. By acquiring a company such as Algotrim, Apple can move quickly to integrate their technology and IP, and add specialized talent to quickly tackle issues such as bandwidth management for streaming content, and overcome memory limitations in mobile devices when streaming music and video.

This is hardly an AOL-Time Warner mega-merger. And I’m willing to bet that in a year or two, we’ll see why Apple did this. Likewise, look for rapid improvements in Apple Maps. That is a highly competitive area, and one where Apple is working hard to close its gap with Google, which admittedly a fast-moving company.

Technology, a patent portfolio and acquiring key talent is important for Apple to stay competitive and keep its lead.